Brat Bríde brings together Kilkenny artists and crafts

A project to bring women across Ireland together in the name of St Brigid is being led from Kilkenny.
Craft work to create a unique and powerful energy, symbolised in a St Brigid’s Cloak was at the centre of the Brat Bríde project, which has recently been completed.

A group of women came together for the project - friends and strangers - with a common goal to up-lift one another, creating a powerful energy which inspires everyone they come in contact with.

The Brat Bríde was the creative idea of artist Michelle McMahon.
She was inspired to channel her emotions and energy into the project by the combined events of last spring - the announcement of Ireland’s first bank holiday in honour of a woman (St Brigid) and the tragic murder of young teacher Aisling Murphy.
Under Michelle’s creative leadership more than 80 women have taken part in the project.

Over the last year there have been a number of different strands to the project.
In 2022 the women created linoprints on fabric (Brat Brídes) of matriarchal / matrilineal figures whose strength resonated with the individual participant. The Brats were exhibited at Butler Gallery last February to celebrate St Brigid’s inaugural Bank Holiday.

In June 2023 members of the Kilkenny One Parent Community, the core group of women helming the project, screen-printed a bespoke fabric with the many women’s designs.

Then, in 2024 Michelle reached out to Cushendale Woollen Mill in Graignamanagh, to get involved in the project and bring the folklore of Brigid’s Cloak to life through the handcrafting of a truly Irish cloak.

The outer fabric of the cloak is made with Cushendale superfine tweed which is uniquely made from Irish wool from Ireland’s only protected indigenous sheep. Its dark slate colour made from blue and grey wool reminding us of the many sacred wells and waterways associated with Brigid.

The screen-printed lining is made using Irish linen from Emblem Irish Weavers in Wexford adorned with unique screen prints of the participants.

After months of planning and creativity Michelle held an event at Butler Gallery in February to celebrate the finished cloak. It was also present at the recent One Parent Community National Single Parent Day event in Kilkenny.

At the Butler Gallery many of the participants put on the cloak and gave it a twirl, revelling in the joy of wearing this legacy garment.
The project continues, now that the cloak is assembled, as Michelle plans to invite women from across Kilkenny and Ireland to gather in sewing circles and embellish the cloak with embroidered designs associated with Brigid, such as dandelions, fire and oak leaves.

If you would like to hear more about Michelle’s Brat Bríde sewing circles please follow her Instagram page @brat_bride

Tradition
We have many traditions associated with Brigid here in Ireland, including that of the Brat Bríde – this involves leaving a piece of fabric or ribbon outside on the eve of Brigid’s Day to catch the spring dew.
The Brat is brought in before sunrise, and is believed to have curative powers, having being blessed by Brigid in her passing. This fabric, with its healing and protection powers, would then be used during the year to cure aliments in humans and animals.